Catskill Mountains

Former advertising copywriter and self-taught designer Tom Givone took on the difficult job of resuscitating a 200-year-old homestead nestled on the edge of the Catskill Mountains. The stunning Floating Farmhouse is the result of four years of experimentation with materials, a great location, and Givone’s magnificent taste and historically sensitive restoration. A perfect mix between the old and the very new, this stunning glazed home features a cantilevered porch that makes the farmhouse ‘float’ and reflect itself on the tranquil waters of a creek.

Now that school’s back in session, we’ve found the perfect solitary haven for reading, writing, and studying. A minimal cube in the woods, the Scholar’s Library by Gluck+ Architects is located in a serene, forested area of Olivebridge, New York. The design is enclosed on the bottom, but open with wrap-around windows on the top. It’s “walls” change with the seasons, turning green in the summer, orange in the fall, and white in the winter.